State Fair poll shows strong support for assault weapons ban, fraud penalties

Three-quarters of respondents to the 2026 House of Representatives’ State Fair Poll support banning the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons in Minnesota.

Gun control became a contentious topic in the House during the 2026 session following the August 2025 shooting at Annunciation Catholic School that killed two children and injured 21 people. A gun violence prevention package containing the ban, proposed by the House DFL, became a major dispute between the two House caucuses in the final week of session and the session ended without a resolution.

The poll found that 75.2% of respondents favor a ban on the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons, except peace officers, service members and other government officials authorized to possess a weapon while acting within the scope of their duties. In opposition to such a ban were 20.5% of polltakers, while 4.3% were undecided.

 The annual poll was conducted by the nonpartisan House Public Information Services Office and is an informal, unscientific survey of issues discussed in prior legislative sessions that may again be topics of discussion in 2027. The 12-question poll was taken by 9,605 fairgoers this year, on par with last year when 9,945 people took part.